Neanderthal DNA surprises in modern humans, the first blood test for Alzheimer’s, a discovery of new human salivary glands, and, oh yeah, a pandemic

This year yielded stunning images of transparent human organs, apex predators, and the world’s response to the ongoing pandemic.

An illegal campfire sparked a blaze that has burned half of the unique Fraser Island off Australia’s East coast.

Roughly half of the howler monkeys in the research preserve have died or remain unaccounted for. Scientists had been studying them for more than 30 years. 

The mountain is home to two historic telescopes and many other scientific instruments, along with a billion dollars’ worth of broadcast transmission towers.

Flames and smoke have killed dozens of people over the past month and burned hundreds of thousands of acres, causing massive disruptions.

Thousands of acres have burned across the northern part of the state, forcing the evacuation of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and posing a serious threat to Lick Observatory.

Researchers uncover the “body-snatching” tactics of fungi that flourish immediately after wildfires.

The wildfires burning across Australia have caused significant damage to ecosystems and vulnerable species, yet some are faring worse than others.